Helping West Yorkshire prepare for emergencies: new Community Risk Register goes live

West Yorkshire Prepared, the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) for West Yorkshire, has launched a new Community Risk Register (CRR) – a practical tool designed to help individuals, families and communities understand and prepare for the most significant risks in our area.

As the region’s LRF, the purpose of the West Yorkshire Prepared partnership is to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and major incidents. To do this, they regularly review and assess the main risks affecting West Yorkshire. The Community Risk Register is just one way in which the LRF communicates these risks and helps people to prepare.

Dave Walton, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for WYFRS and co-Chair of West Yorkshire Prepared, said: “As we head into the colder months, risks such as extreme cold, flooding and power cuts become more likely. While these events are not guaranteed, being prepared can make a real difference. The guidance in the West Yorkshire Community Risk Register outlines the most relevant risks for our region and offers simple, practical steps on planning ahead so you can make sure you and your family are prepared.”

The following are the main risks identified in the CRR that are considered most likely to affect our daily lives, should they occur:

Each risk is assessed for its likelihood and potential impact. The CRR gives a summary of the actions LRF partners are taking to prepare, and also provides clear, accessible advice for the public and what they can do to improve their resilience, such as:

• Signing up to the Met Office weather alert emails or the Environment Agency’s flood warning service.
• Knowing the contingency arrangements for your workplace or child’s school if they had to close unexpectedly.
• Having emergency items to hand in case of a power cut (torch, power bank, warm blanket, etc).
• Staying updated with the latest cyber threats.

This new CRR responds directly to findings from a community resilience survey run earlier this year by West Yorkshire Prepared, where 57% of respondents said a lack of information was a key barrier to emergency readiness.

Dave Walton added: “It’s important to emphasise the Community Risk Register is not a warning of imminent danger. This is about being proactive, not fearful. Emergencies are rare, but having a plan in place can help reduce disturbance and keep people safe if something does happen.

“We know emergencies can be disruptive and unsettling, but with the right information and a few simple steps, everyone can be better prepared.”

The CRR’s publication also follows on from the launch of the UK Government’s national ‘Prepare’ website earlier this year, which encourages people to take simple, practical steps to improve their resilience to emergencies such as flooding, power outages and severe weather.

West Yorkshire residents are encouraged to take steps to improve their personal and household resilience by: